AAN Bike Helmet Giveaway Draws Record Crowds; Helps Promote Safety

June 25, 2012

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With the help of the Board of Directors, the American Academy of Neurology celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters in Minneapolis by giving away 1,000 free bike helmets for adults and children at the Mill City Farmers Market on Saturday, June 9, 2012. The bike helmet giveaway drew record crowds for the Market as members of the Academy’s Board of Directors helped to fit the helmets while delivering a message of the importance of brain health and protecting the brain. Several local television stations and publications covered the event.

“The bike helmet giveaway was our way of saying thanks to Minneapolis, particularly the Mill City neighborhood, for their support and warm welcome of our new building,” said Catherine M. Rydell, CAE, Executive Director and CEO of the American Academy of Neurology.

As the largest trade association in Minnesota, the American Academy of Neurology built its new headquarters at Chicago Avenue and 2nd Street, across from the Mill City Farmers Market. It is the first substantial office building to be constructed in downtown Minneapolis in the past 10 years. As part of the celebration, the Mill City Farmers Market held cooking demonstration on healthy brain food. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak also proclaimed June 9, 2012, as Brain Health Awareness Day in the city to raise awareness of brain disease and the importance of supporting research to find cures. In addition to the Mill City Farmers Market bike helmet giveaway, the Academy also donated 1,000 bike helmets again this year to children in north Minneapolis through local bike fests.

So far, the Academy has received several reports from bike riders as to how the helmets donated by the AAN have helped to prevent serious injury and encouraged some riders and their families to start wearing bike helmets.